Armenian Investigative committee brings charges against mercenary from Syria captured in Artsakh

YEREVAN, November 2. /ARKA/. The Investigative Committee of Armenia continues the investigation of the criminal case on the aggression unleashed and carried out by the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan along the entire line of contact with Artsakh, on international terrorism, serious violations of international humanitarian law during armed clashes, on giving a criminal order during time of military clashes and mercenaries, according to the press service of the committee reports.

The investigation team, which includes employees of the Investigative Committee and the Investigation Department of the National Security Service, are carrying out large-scale inquiry and other procedural actions.

The investigators decided to attract Mehrab Muhammad Al Shkher as an accused under the articles of the Armenian Criminal Code on international terrorism, on serious violations of international humanitarian law during military conflicts and on mercenarism.

On November 2 this year, arrest was chosen as a preventive measure against him.

According to the information he provided, he arrived in Azerbaijan from Turkey at dawn on October 18. He was in the group of about 430 people, not counting the wounded. they drove through the mountains, through the villages, in which there were Turkish and Azeri servicemen and rocket and artillery guns were installed. According to him, the Azerbaijani military instructed them to conquer an empty, in their words, Armenian village "but they did not go with us and instructed not to leave anyone alive, either military or civilian."

Mehrab Muhammad Al Shkher was detained on October 31 on suspicion of the implementation of criminal acts under the Criminal Code articles on international terrorism, serious violations of international humanitarian law during armed conflicts and mercenarism. He arrived in Azerbaijan from Turkey at dawn on October 18. He, with a group of about 430 people, was driven through the mountains, through the villages, in which Turkish and Azeri servicemen and rocket and artillery guns were deployed. According to him, the Azerbaijani military instructed them to conquer an empty, in their words, Armenian village "but they did not go with us and instructed not to leave anyone alive, either military or civilian."
According to the testimony of another mercenary, Yusuf Alaabet al Gadzhi, $ 2,000 a month was promised to him for the fight against the "giavurs" (unbelievers) in Artsakh and another $ 100 "bonus" for each severed head of the enemy.

A suspect or accused of an alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to a court ruling that has entered into legal force, in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia.

War in Artsakh

Since September 27, Azerbaijani troops have been carrying out military aggression along the entire length of the contact line in Artsakh, conducting artillery and rocket attacks, including against civilians and civilian infrastructures. Strikes were also carried out at civilian and military targets on the territory of Armenia.

 The Azerbaijani side is supported by the Turkish Armed Forces and the foreign terrorist mercenaries recruited by it. The Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression encounters a decisive rebuff from the Armenian Armed Forces along the entire frontline.

 According to the official reports on the Armenian side, Azerbaijan sustains huge losses in manpower. Its death toll since the beginning of the war is 6,997. Also 241UAVs, 16 helicopters and 25 aircraft have been downed as well as 669 armored vehicles and 6 TOS units have been destroyed since the beginning of war. More than 1,060 Armenian servicemen have been killed and several hundred people were wounded. As a result of the war crimes committed by Azerbaijan, 45 civilians were killed and 141 wounded in Artsakh. 

 Since the beginning of the war, there have been three attempts to establish a humanitarian ceasefire. All three agreements, which were reached on October 10 through the mediation of the Russian Federation, on October 17 through France and on October 25 through the mediation of the United States, were violated by Azerbaijan. -0---